British journalist appearing in Zimbabwe court
Wednesday, 05 Nov 2008 10:42
British journalist appears at Zimbabwe court facing charges of illegally practicing journalism
A British journalist appears at a
Zimbabwe court today facing charges of illegally practicing journalism in the southern
African country.
Phillip Warrington Taylor faces a jail term if found guilty of practicing journalism without accreditation, a criminal offence under the country's tough media laws.
Zimbabwe’s harsh Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) can imprison journalists for two years for practising without accreditation.
Mr Taylor, who is currently on bail, was arrested last Thursday by state security agents while aboard a UK bound plane at the Harare International Airport.
The journalist, who was ordered to surrender his passport when he appeared in court last week, denies the charges against him.
Mr Taylor, who spent 30 days in Zimbabwe, says he is a tourist.
His arrest raises doubts over the Zimbabwean government's sincerity on its pledge to uphold press freedom and stop its clampdown on the media following the signing of power sharing deal with the opposition.
Zimbabwe has the toughest media laws in the world, passed in 2000, which have been invoked on numerous occasions to expel foreign correspondents and close about four private newspapers.
For example, CNN and the BBC are banned in Zimbabwe.
Journalists face up to 20 years in jail on charges of publishing false information or statements that are prejudicial to the state or are likely to cause, promote, or incite public disorder, or adversely affect the security or economic interests of the country.